Switching device.



W. E. HARKNESS. SWITCHING DEVICE. 4 APPLICAHOh FILED 'AUG.26, 1912.

Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W. E.-H ARKNESS. SWITCHING DEVICE. 1 APPLICATION FILED AUG-26, I912.

1,1 WA W, f Patented May 16, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

- urn eras an E. EA'RKNESS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY,.ASSIGNOE, BY 113N- MENTS, T HALL SWITCH 80 IQNAL COMPANY, A COMO t. TION OF MINE.

SWITCHING DEVICE 'Specificatiof Letters Patent. Patented 11%, 191165..

- Application filed August 26, 1912. Serial No. 717,089.

Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that IE, WILLIAM E. Hann- Nnss, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex and State'of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Switching Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, refer- .ence being had to the accompanying draw- .ings, forming a part of this 81108011103121.011 The invention herein relates toswitchmg devices and isof more particular use in con I nection with a jack type test panel of particular utility ir'mconnection with the interconnecting and {change of connection between various egitering lines at a central station. I

The invention herein provides novel circuit arrangemengs and prlmarily, a structure in which the various interconnecting devices, such as jacks, are accessibly mounted,

the structure supporting the jacks being movably mounted to permit access to the rear of the jacks without disturbing the connection. The structure is also such that the wiring may be entirely open, the line terminals being connected directly to the line jacks without the use of a cable form. This greatly lessens the possibility of trouble on account of lightning discharges. To further avoid lightning trouble, the ground jack used in this connection is located entirely separate from the line jacks and has a separate lead to its terminal. 1

Specifically the apparatus is such that the inks are arranged on a panel supported in such manner that by removing two screws in the upper part of the panel, the whole panel'can be swung from a vertical to a horizontal position for a ready examination of the apparatus and wiring. This can be done without disturbing the line wires con-. nected to the jacks. The frame which supports the jack panel likewise carries the terminal strips to which the line wires are secured. a One embodiment of the invention will be described more specifically by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure leis a front view of the im oved jack panel; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line b1b of Fig. 4; Fig. 3 is a view illu rating the panel portion swung about its s port;

ig. 4 is a sectional view on line d-a of.

Fig. 1; Fig. 5 showsthe manner of cord mounting; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic circuit arrangement of the device, and. Fig. 7 is a sectional view on line 0-0 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the device is illustrated as comprising a back plate 1 to which the structure shown more in detail in Fig. 3 is pivotally supported. This structure comprises a ]ack panel 2 having at its extremities two U shaped supports 3, 3 by means of which this jack panel is mounted. To mount this panel structure angle pieces 4, 4:, four in number are secured to the back plate 1 and the angle supports 3, 3 are adapted to be secured to these brackets r by means of the screws 5. It will thus be seen that by releasing either the upper pair of screws 5, 5 or the lower air of screws 5, 5, the panel structure may e swung about its remaining supports.

On account of the entry of the line wires at the lower portion of the device, the jack of the elements 3 and secured thereto by means of the screws 11, 11. These strips 10 respectively carry the line terminals 12, 12 which are held in place by means of the screws 13, 13. Fig. 7 shows more in detail the scheme of open wiring for the line terminals 12 to the jacks and from one jack to another. Connecting cords of the single conductor .variety in this specific embodiment 14, 15, 16, 17, 18', 19, 20 and 21 respectively have their terminals suitably connected to binding posts 22 and are held in place by the customary straps 23. A ground terminal 24 is likewise provided which is connected directly to the grounding jack 7. It may be said, of course, that while the system is herein shown for use in connection with single conductor cords and plugs, it is likewise available for two conductor purposes and its modification to such a system 'will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

In order to inclose the entire structure so that the parts will be free: from outside interference, acasing 25 is provided having four sides 25 and a front cross piece 2 6,all comprising a unitary structure which is set over the apparatus as shown more clearly in Figs. 1,2 and 4 and is then held in place by means of eyelets or catches 27, 27,- thus presenting a closed'structure.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 6 the system of wiring is set forth. It will be noted that each jack 6 has a terminal respectively connected to its associated bind1 ng post 12. The lower two jacks on either side are adapted for; use to accommodate for 1ncoming grounded lines or two incomin metallic lines. The two jacks on each si e di-' rectly above the two first mentioned are adapted to accommodate either two through grounded lines or one through metallic line, as the lines arecontinuous by reason of the conducting wires 27, 27. a The upper two jacks on either side are adapted to accommodate through a metallic line and the left hand switching device 8 is connected through the agency of the conductors 28, -28. The terminals 29, 29 of this switching device are designed to havethe train despatchers telephone and selecting equipment attached thereto, so that the through line associated with the upper pair of'jacks is directly connected with the train dQSPatchers telephone and selecting equipment as will be readily apparent from the connections. Similarly 1 the next two pairs of jacks on either side are adapted to accommodate a second through line having telephone and despatchingequipment associated therewith in bridge by means of the conductors 30 which lead to the right hand switching device 8 whose terminals 31, 31 are adapted likewise to accommodate a telephone and signaling device. Normally the train despatcher may be on the circuit accommodated by the'upper pair of jacks, the left hand switching device 8 being in the circuit condition illustrated. N ow should this-particular circuit become faulty, however, or should the train despatcher de- 1 sire-to connect himself with any other circuit, or Sl1OL1ld' he desire, for instance,'-to complete the incoming circuit of, the two upper right hand jacks through the jack on -.the leftside in order to geta more perfect line, then the connecting plugs are brought.

into use. In. order to complete this last named connection, plug 17 would be connected I to the upper right hand jack 6 and plu 16 would be connectedtothe fifth left hand ack w he line that thus 6;. Thenlp'lug 15 would be connected to the second right hand jack 6 and plug 14: would be connected to the'sixth left hand jack 6. enters theupper two right hand jacks would be cut off from the upper two left hand jacks and would be completed side of-the panel, this may be used for ordinary it accessible and of in willbe readily terminals carried by said a surrounding casing for sai acks 'removably secured to said back w1th this .linevthe button 9 is actuated so that this particular equipment is connected the two sets of cords I directly in bridge of as will'be apparent from the illustration.

' The circuit arrangement is such, as is apparent, that testing may be properly car- 1 ried on by inserting a plug in any jack, as the line to the left or the right is therefore cut off, and the test may be carried on on the line remaining connected tgnthe jack. Plugs, interconnecting work without interfering with the train despatchers equipment connected to the terminals 29, 29, as these plugs and cords are normally not connected with any line.

' From the foregoing the arranging the system and structure to make apparent.

odifications, mayreadily be made without departing from the spirit" of the invention and what I therefore claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a back-plate, a jackpanel,a plurality of jacks mounted thereon, a terminal member having mounted thereon a plurality of terminals insulated from each other and adapted to be connected with said jacks, means igidly connectingsaid jackpanel and terminal member together a predetermined distance apart and means for advantage of thus thus arranging the wi loo hinging said jack-planel and terminal mem her to said back-plate whereby easy access maybe had to said jacks and terminals by moving the same around the hinging means.

2. A device of the character described having a back plate, a jacklpanel, a plurality of jacks mounted onsaid panel, supporting means mounted on said back plate, a

plurality of arms extending from said panel to said supporting means, means for pivot;

ally associating said arms with said support mg means so that when the connection be-.

tween certain of said arms and said support- --ing means is removed, said panel may be .swung about the remaining supporting means, and an insulating arms.-

3, A device of the character described having a back plate, of jacks mountedon said panel, supporting means mounted on said back plate, a plurality of arms extendingfrom said panel to said supporting means, means for pivotally associating said arms with said -supporting means so that when theconnection between certain of said arms 'and said supporting means is removed, said panel may be swun about the remaining supportin means, and -panel and plate;

strip carrying line a jack panel, a plurality i. A device of the character described having a back plate, a 3'ack panel, a plurality of jacks mounted on said panel, supporting means mounted on said back plate, a plurality of arms extending from said panel to said supporting means, means for pivotally associating said arms with said supporting means so that when the connection between certain of said arms and said supporting means is removed, said panel may be swung about the remaining supporting means, an insulating strip carrying line terminals carried by said arms, and a surroundin casing for said panel and jacks remov- 15 ab y secured to said back plate.

5. A device vof the character described,

comprising a back plate, a jack panel ivotally associated therewith, a lurality o acks on said panel, a plurality of plugs and cords, a key having terminals for connecting said jacks with an operators equipment, said key being adapted to connect said equipment with said plugs and cords, whereby said equipment may then be connected with any line associated with said device.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this third day of June A. D., 1912.

WIL IAM E. nannunss.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. Banner, Enwm R. GILL. 

